Liquid containing toy rattle



April 17, 1951 E. SHERIDAN LIQUiD CONTAINING TOY RATTLE 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1947 INVENTOR Z. Shem dan/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1951 "OFFICE LIQUID CONTAINING TOY RATTLll Esther L. Sheridan, New York, N. Y.

Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,263

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved toy and especially a rattle for use by infants.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a rattle a structure such that a child handling the device will not alone be able to create the more or less conventional sounds, but will also be amused and entertained by the structure which is embraced within the device.

A further object is that of furnishing a unit as specified in the preceding paragraph and in which there will be incorporated a substance capable of flowing. Accordingly, as the position of the rattle is shifted, that substance may be caused to appear and substantially disappear to the end that the child will be amused and entertained.

An additional object is that of furnishing a rattle which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction,'the parts being capable of economical manufacture by quantity production methods.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of one form of rattle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a second form of unit which may be provided;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device in a different position and also illustrating a slightly modified structure; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a still further form of structure. I

In these views, the numeral 5 indicates the body of a rattle from which a stem or handle 6 extends. The latter may terminate in a teething ring portion 7. If such a portion is used, it will conveniently serve as a handle. In any event, the stem 6 may also be grasped for this purpose. Both the stem 6 and the body 5 are hollow. They may be formed of any desirable material such as a shatter-proof plastic.

Within these hollow portions a body 8 of flowable material is disposed. While this body might include solids in the form of minute particles capable of ready movement with respect to each other, it is preferred that a liquid be employed. This liquid should be of a harmless type and may be tinted so as to present an attractive color; at least the body 5 being transparent so that liquid may be observed. Whether a solid or a liquid mass is employed, the volume of the latter should be such as to only partially fill the body 5 and a perforate partition 9.

4 Claims. (Cl. 46-193) to be capable of being accommodated within the handle 6. 7

As in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the zone of demarcation between the body 5 and stem 6 may be defined by Through the apertures of the unit the substance 8 may readily pass. However, articles such as H) disposed within the body 5 will not pass through these apertures. Therefore, they will be left within the hollow body when the liquid or solid mass 8 is dis- I If, with this construction, it is found that due to the design characteristics of the stem and body, liquid tends to move only slowly'into the handle or else remains partially trapped within the body 5, this condition may be corrected by,

for example, employing a vent tube I3. This tube should preferably be secured against movement with respect to the remainder of the apparatus. However, it will afford a passage for the flow of air fromthe inner end of the stem through to the outer end of the body 5. Therefore, as the rattle is brought to a vertical position as in Fig. 3, the liquid will freely flow into the handle because the displaced air may readilyfiow through the tube l3 into the body 5.

As will be apparent, an infant may play with the rattle and will derive considerable amusement and entertainment from observing the ob- ,jects ID or ll upon the surface of the preferably jects I ll or II or their equivalent remain within body 5. Therefore, as the rattle is shaken, these objects strike against the inner face of the body 5 to producea desired rattling sound, thus further amusing and entertaining the child.

From the foregoing it is obvious'thatamong others, the several objects of .the invention are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in con:

struction and rearrangement of the parts might i 3 be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A toy including in combination a hollow, transparent member, a hollow stem, the latter having a diameter less than the diameter of said member and being connected to and extending laterally therefrom, a floatable object disposed for movements within said member, a quantity of liquid of a volume not greater than the space defined by said stemand said liquidwhen disposed Within said member-supporting said objeot upon its surface and normally retarding its movements and cushioning it in its engagement with the inner surface of said member.

2. A toy including in combination a hollow, transparent member, a hollow stem, the latter having a diameter less than the diameter of said member and being connected to and extending laterally therefrom, a floatable object disposed for movements within said member, a. quantity of liquid of a volume not greater than the space defined by said stem, said liquidwhen disposed Within said inembersupporting said object upon its surface and normally retarding its movements and cushioning it in its engagement with the inner surface of said member and the area of said obj eot being, greater than the diameter of said stem whereby said object may not enter said stem as the liquid is caused to flow into the latter.

3. A toy including in combination a hollow,

I transparent member, a hollow stem, the latter having a diameter less than the diameter of said member and being connected to and extending laterally therefrom, a fioatable object disposed for movements within said member, a quantity of liquid of a volume not greater than the space defined by said stem, said liquid-when disposed Within said membersupporting said object upon its surface and normally retarding its movements and cushioning it in its engagement with the inner surface of said member and apertured guard means disposed adjacent the points of connection of said member and stem to prevent said object from entering the latter.

4. A toy' including in combination a hollow, transparent member, a hollow stem, the latter having a diameter less than the diameter of said member and being connected to and extending laterally therefrom, a floatable object disposed for movements within said member, a quantity of liquid of a volume not greater than the space defined by said stem, said liquid-when disposed within said membersupporting said object upon its surface and normally retarding its movements and cushioning it in its engagement with the inner surface of said member and a vent tube extending from a point adjacent the outer end of the stem to a point within said member.

ESTHER L. SHERIDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 714,141 Cady Nov. 25, 1902 783,357 Bissell Feb. 21, 1905 1,337,758 De Costa Apr. 20, 1920 2,179,095 Kelsey Nov. '7, 1939 2,442,680 Ewald June 1, 1948 

